News Zootopia and Moana Blue Sky concepts for Disney's Animal Kingdom

[_caleb]

Well, I think a lot of them became fans of Disney parks in the 80s and 90s (like me), and the current parks are very, very different in many ways.

That obviously doesn't mean they're objectively worse, but if you were a fan because of A, B, and C, and all of those things are gone or changed significantly (and I don't solely mean attractions), it's understandable you'd no longer love the current version even if it's better (or equally great) for others. I suppose you could then argue why are they still on the forums, which is understandable, but it's still interesting to keep up with what's going on.

For this particular set of announcements, though, number of people who are negative about them but have been generally positive up to this point is very high. The negative reaction seems pretty widespread.

Regardless, I'd agree that the people who just immediately bash everything are tiresome.

I find that many of those of us who became fans in the 80s and 90s have fostered nostalgia for something that really only ever existed in our minds and memories (0 wait time, ”cheap” Disney vacations, no IP in the parks, amazing high-quality food, etc.). All these things may have happened at one time or another, but from the beginning, I don’t think these were typical.

Can current Disney ever please fans of a product that may never have actually existed?

 

[doctornick]

I think replacing something unpopular with something popular counts as an addition. Ellen wasn't doing anybody any favors running empty boats all day. And I'm sorry, pretending like Maelstrom was beloved after the fact is rose-colored glasses.

Maelstrom perhaps wasn't beloved perhaps, but it wasn't running empty or half filled boats. It always had a line (except for maybe right when WS opened in the late morning).

Though on that note, I guess you could say FEA increased capacity simply by running all day from park open and not just starting when WS opens later.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Though on that note, I guess you could say FEA increased capacity simply by running all day from park open and not just starting when WS opens later.

Yeah I'd say that Frozen and Rat did for World Showcase what Rivers of Light failed to do for Animal Kingdom.

 

[crazy4disney]

Also Pandora.

I know Camp Minnie-Mickey was there, but that was bare bones and didn't have any rides, and I don't think it was ever intended to be more than a temporary placeholder. Pandora definitely added significant capacity.

yet the park is still a half day park and needs more rides....

 

[crazy4disney]

Put Moana in the Adventureland expansion pad. Outrageous to put her in DAK and Epcot. Hoping this doesn't happen.

meanwhile if VotLM does not make a comeback... a Moana re theme there seemed like a perfect fit/replacement

 

[UNCgolf]

I find that many of those of us who became fans in the 80s and 90s have fostered nostalgia for something that really only ever existed in our minds and memories (0 wait time, ”cheap” Disney vacations, no IP in the parks, amazing high-quality food, etc.). All these things may have happened at one time or another, but from the beginning, I don’t think these were typical.

Can current Disney ever please fans of a product that may never have actually existed?

Eh, mine aren't really about any of those things -- they're about the attractions themselves (I prefer most of the original EPCOT attractions to almost anything they've built since across all parks, e.g., and still think Spaceship Earth is the best attraction at current EPCOT and one of the best at WDW -- I also like NRJ far more than most people, so I think it's mainly about the style of attraction) and about things like the themed stores and unique merchandise that's almost completely disappeared. The whole front area of Hollywood Studios is a great example of the theming loss in shopping.

I don't think they ever had amazing high-quality food, especially not across the board. I do think the deluxe (or whatever we should call them) restaurants generally had higher quality/more diverse food pre-DDP than they do now, though.

I also agree that 0 waits were never a thing. I remember waiting at least an hour to ride Splash Mountain in the mid-90s. EPCOT likely skewed that perception some too, since almost everything there had both high capacity and lasted much longer than Disney's typical new build today -- thus the waits were relatively short and then the attraction experience sucked up more of the day.

 

[DCLcruiser]

That is actually my point in all this. Disney closes things down and leaves it sit for years, see 20k in magic kingdom, then when they open something new they claim they're adding. But when all is said and done, we are no better off capacity wise than 15 or more years ago.

I hear you. They should replace WoL and add more country rides.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Would we feel better if the ride opens with “welcome to a voyage of discovery and awareness…”?

 

[mattpeto]

meanwhile if VotLM does not make a comeback... a Moana re theme there seemed like a perfect fit/replacement

I'm guessing they are waiting to see how TLM does in 2023 before making a call with that space.

And maybe the Grotto?

 

[crazy4disney]

I'm guessing they are waiting to see how TLM does in 2023 before making a call with that space.

And maybe the Grotto?

So leave it empty in a park that needs capacity…. Yet another great decision by Management. This is slowly becoming Stitch 2.0

 

[Ismael Flores]

I really like how the Moana area looks for DAK, it give the area a nice lush landscape and still works with the IP and park.

I am not sure about zooptopia I guess I would be ok with zootopia if they took it in a different direction form what they are doing in Shanghai. Instead of doing a city scape they really should consider one of the other more natural Biodomes that are referenced in the movie.

I would prefer the rainforest, meadowland or Tundra areas for DAK if zootopia was to go in that park

Imagine a replica of the rainforest area with tree canopies an walkways that would give some amazing views of the area. The perfect excuse to add a skyway to the park.

or why not put the land towards the back of the park and add Savanna or Sahara central.


The movie has some gorgeous scenery I do not understand why they chose the downtown cityscape.

No matter how detailed they do that it would not compare to the elaborate look of the city in the movie.

These other areas would give them more liberty to really create something impressive

 

[dennis-in-ct]

Moana fits conservation theme like the Ghostbusters fit refuge collection. From briefly watching it many aeroplane flights ago the story is about returning a stolen mystic gem to an enraged god. That isn't a conservation message...

I see it as our connection to nature's elements and maybe protecting that connection?
For me, I can accept her in Animal Kingdom but it is a little bit of a stretch. When they announced Avatar I was 1000% in and soooo excited. Don't feel that way with Moana but I am ok with it.

Zootopia was a great movie and would love to see the land NOT in Animal Kingdom.

 

[dennis-in-ct]

I really like how the Moana area looks for DAK, it give the area a nice lush landscape and still works with the IP and park.

I am not sure about zooptopia I guess I would be ok with zootopia if they took it in a different direction form what they are doing in Shanghai. Instead of doing a city scape they really should consider one of the other more natural Biodomes that are referenced in the movie.

I would prefer the rainforest, meadowland or Tundra areas for DAK if zootopia was to go in that park

Imagine a replica of the rainforest area with tree canopies an walkways that would give some amazing views of the area. The perfect excuse to add a skyway to the park.
View attachment 666257
or why not put the land towards the back of the park and add Savanna or Sahara central.


The movie has some gorgeous scenery I do not understand why they chose the downtown cityscape.

No matter how detailed they do that it would not compare to the elaborate look of the city in the movie.

These other areas would give them more liberty to really create something impressive

View attachment 666253View attachment 666254

Well, they did say regarding Zootopia that maybe there are some lands we haven't seen from Zootopia yet that would work ... so I think you are on to something. In other words, Disney could MAKE it work.

 

[Captain Neo]

Are they obsessed? I think it's more likely that that is what they can do given the budget they are given. I don't think it's the case that they come up with the idea first and then they pitch it to corporate.

Well it’s just a blue sky painting they can draw literally whatever they want. However as someone pointed out the spinner already exists so it’s just an idea how to repurpose it. I had thought all of dinorama was already removed

 

[SirLink]

Would we feel better if the ride opens with “welcome to a voyage of discovery and awareness…”?

Nope I would feel better if Chris Beatty was fired ... every project he has ever touched as ballooned very quickly under him. Get any projects he has his tendrils in and put them in the trash. Then go through the the original plans for the dinosaur area build that and move on.

 

[Captain Neo]

Wouldn’t it be way cooler and appropriate if they added another continent like Australia?

Because right now it’s going to be Asian Africa and a bunch of movie lands

Should be renamed Disney Animal Studios Park

 

[doctornick]

I hear you. They should replace WoL and add more country rides.

With the new movie (though I know reception is far from perfect), it would have been nice if they had added a Pinocchio ride to Italy. I've long suggested that copying the DL ride and putting it in Epcot would be a nice small scale addition and would help break up the gap of no rides between Norway and France. and it's a long walk from China and American Adventure for even a significant attraction of any kind (sorry Germany trains, not quite what I mean).

 

[doctornick]

Wouldn’t it be way cooler and appropriate if they added another continent like Australia?

Because right now it’s going to be Asian Africa and a bunch of movie lands

Should be renamed Disney Animal Studios Park

I would strongly suspect they are doing exactly that if Moana comes on board - they would make that into an "Oceana" (or something similar) land. @ToTBellHop indicated that some animal exhibits would be part of this addition which would be great if it happens; if not from actual Polynesia, I would think they'd add animals from Australia proper.

 

[_caleb]

Eh, mine aren't really about any of those things -- they're about the attractions themselves (I prefer most of the original EPCOT attractions to almost anything they've built since across all parks, e.g., and still think Spaceship Earth is the best attraction at current EPCOT and one of the best at WDW -- I also like NRJ far more than most people, so I think it's mainly about the style of attraction) and about things like the themed stores and unique merchandise that's almost completely disappeared. The whole front area of Hollywood Studios is a great example of the theming loss in shopping.

I don't think they ever had amazing high-quality food, especially not across the board. I do think the deluxe (or whatever we should call them) restaurants generally had higher quality/more diverse food pre-DDP than they do now, though.

No doubt there has always been plenty to enjoy about the parks. And I agree with your take on Spaceship Earth 100%. It is truly one of my favorites.

But I’m convinced that if Disney created that same attraction today (and they wouldn’t), many fans would be disappointed.

 

[DCLcruiser]

With the new movie (though I know reception is far from perfect), it would have been nice if they had added a Pinocchio ride to Italy. I've long suggested that copying the DL ride and putting it in Epcot would be a nice small scale addition and would help break up the gap of no rides between Norway and France. and it's a long walk from China and American Adventure for even a significant attraction of any kind (sorry Germany trains, not quite what I mean).

I've never been into Pinocchio, but I agree an Italy ride, and a ride for the other countries is necessary.